Android App Development for Embedded Systems

Android App Development Logo I create intuitive user interfaces and high-performance applications that communicate directly with your hardware, turning a device into a complete solution.

Android is not just for smartphones. It is a powerful and versatile operating system, ideal for bringing to life embedded devices that require a rich graphical interface and advanced features. I develop custom Android applications that run on custom hardware, industrial panels, interactive kiosks, and much more, ensuring stability, performance, and a flawless user experience.

Why Android for Your Embedded Device?

Choosing Android as the software platform for a hardware product offers strategic advantages that accelerate development and improve the final product.

Familiar User Interface: Offer your users an intuitive and modern user experience, reducing learning time.
Mature Ecosystem: Leverage a rich development environment (SDK), thousands of ready-made libraries, and extensive documentation.
Flexibility and Scalability: Android can be customized and lightened (AOSP) to perfectly fit your hardware's resources.
Simplified Connectivity: Native and robust management of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth/BLE, USB, and other communications, essential for connected devices.

My Embedded Android Development Services

Kiosk Mode Applications: Development of full-screen apps that lock the device to a single function, ideal for points of sale (POS), information kiosks, control terminals, and automatic ticketing machines.
Dashboards and Control Panels (HMI): I create interfaces for monitoring and controlling industrial machinery, home automation systems, or IoT devices, displaying real-time data and sending commands to the hardware.
Specific Hardware Integration: Development of communication between the Android app and your device's custom peripherals via protocols like Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Wi-Fi Direct, USB (Host/Accessory), and serial (UART).
Companion Apps: I create the Android application that acts as a remote control, configurator, or control panel for your microcontroller-based products (like ESP32 and STM32), communicating via BLE or Wi-Fi.
AOSP (Android Open Source Project) Customization: I offer consulting and development to customize the low-level operating system, creating custom launchers, managing system permissions, and optimizing device boot-up.

Application Areas

Industrial Automation: Operator panels (HMI) for machinery control.
IoT and Home Automation: Central hubs and dashboards for smart home management.
Retail and Vending: POS systems, vending machines, and interactive kiosks.
Medical Devices: Interfaces for diagnostic and monitoring instrumentation.
Automotive: Infotainment and onboard diagnostic systems.

Have a device that needs a smart interface?

Let's discuss how a custom Android application can unlock the full potential of your hardware product.

Let's Talk About Your Project

Case Study

Case Study: Android App for Controlling a Medical Device via Bluetooth

Client: An innovative startup in the wearable medical device sector.

Objective: To develop a robust Android application for patients and doctors to interact with a new vital signs monitoring device. The app needed to display real-time data, configure alarm thresholds, and securely update the device firmware (DFU).

Challenge: The project's critical point was the reliability of the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) connection. It was essential to ensure stable communication, flawless automatic reconnection handling, and an error-proof firmware update process to avoid bricking the hardware device.

Solution Implemented:

Modern BLE Stack: An Android service was implemented to manage the BLE connection lifecycle in the background, using the latest libraries for communication and permission handling on Android 12+.
Connection State Machine: To ensure robustness, a finite state machine was created to manage all possible connection states (Disconnected, Scanning, Connecting, Connected, Updating), making the app's behavior predictable and easy to debug.
Secure Data Protocol: A custom communication protocol was defined for data exchange between the app and the device, featuring checksums and retransmission mechanisms to ensure the integrity of commands and measurements.
Firmware Over-The-Air (DFU): A secure DFU library (specific to the BLE chip manufacturer) was integrated, which managed the transfer of the new firmware in blocks, with integrity checks at each step to prevent corruption.

Results:

Reliable Connectivity: The app demonstrated connection stability of over 99.5% during clinical trials, even in environments with high radio interference.
Patient Safety: The DFU process proved to be 100% safe, with no instances of critical device failure during updates.
Regulatory Approval: The software's robustness and reliability were a key factor in obtaining the necessary medical certifications.

Domande Frequenti (FAQ)

Do you only develop native apps, or also cross-platform?

We specialize in native Android development (with Kotlin/Java) to ensure the best performance and maximum integration with the operating system. However, for projects with specific budget or time constraints, we can evaluate cross-platform solutions like Flutter, analyzing the pros and cons with the client.

How is the app publication on the Google Play Store managed?

We handle the entire process: from creating the developer account, preparing screenshots and descriptions, to uploading the app and managing any reviews required by Google. We provide a turnkey service.

Do you offer post-launch support and maintenance?

Yes. We offer custom maintenance plans to ensure the app stays updated with new Android versions, to fix any potential bugs, and to implement minor improvements over time.

How much does it cost and how long does it take to develop an app?

Costs and timelines depend entirely on the project's complexity. A simple app with a few informational screens might take a few weeks, whereas a complex app with a backend, database, and third-party integrations can take several months. The best way to get an estimate is to contact us for a free project analysis.